Truck height

[TuckerRight06]

I purchased my Silverado new in 2015 .  It’s a V-6 crew cab 1500 4x2.  I am noticing that it seems to be shrinking, getting closer to the ground.  Not as tall as it was when I bought it.  So today I googled the specs and I find that it’s supposed to be 74” (+\-).
 

So I measured it and it is just shy of 71”.  It has 298,000 miles and I’ve replaced the tires a couple times but always with the exact match to the tires that came on it.  I’ve had the struts and shocks replaced once and most recently all the ball joints and control arms.  
why is my truck shrinking? 

[CamGTP]

If the leaf springs in the rear have sagged over time, that will drop the height a decent amount.

 

Most 2WD trucks have a decent rake to them too, the rear is usually up higher by like 1.5-2 inches.

 

 

[TuckerRight06]

I can accept that the rear leaf springs are sagging but how does that affect the front?  Is there some kind of leveling system?  Maybe?

[CamGTP]

Nothing from the factory.

 

You would have wanted to measure the stock fender to ground height when it was new and compared it to what you see now. My point was that if the rear is sagging 1-2 inches that is going to bring the front and rear more level and reduce the overall height by roughly the same amount depending on exactly where you measure from.

 

We have two 2016 4X4 crew cab trucks at my house right now, I took measurements from the stock truck as mine is lowered. Overall height is roughly 73in inches. The shark fin antenna is likely factored into the factory specs and I am not including the height of that. The front fender to ground is 36 and 1/4in and the rear is 38.5 inches ground to bottom of the fender. These are taken from the passenger side and I have no clue how much fuel is in the tank. A full tank of gas will sag the drivers side.

 

See what your measurements are compared to that.

Edited July 16, 2021 by CamGTP

[TuckerRight06]

Thanks, tomorrow I will compare your 4x4 measurements to mine.  I’d be surprised if the shark fin is calculated in to the spec height but who knows in this world we live in.  Thanks for your time sir.

[14LTZ-1LZ]

When was the last time you got an alignment? If the toe is off maybe 1/2 in difference not 3 in, but you said that you just had the front suspension replaced. Was it done correctly?  

[TuckerRight06]

I just recently had all the ball joints and upper control arms replaced and the alignment.  Within 5000 miles.

[newdude]

When you did the struts, did you go with OEM and new springs?  Or just the shock portion of the strut?  

 

[JimCost2014]

On 7/15/2021 at 5:27 PM, TuckerRight06 said:

Thanks, tomorrow I will compare your 4x4 measurements to mine.  I’d be surprised if the shark fin is calculated in to the spec height but who knows in this world we live in.  Thanks for your time sir.

Anything on the truck from the factory will be factored in.

 

If they don't, and someone drives under something then "rips" it off, they would have a lawsuit on their hands.

Edited July 17, 2021 by JimCost2014